核开关是一类保守的RNA元件，可以通过特异性识别小分子配体来开启或关闭下游相关基因的表达，进而调控细胞的生命活动。目前已鉴定出近60种核开关，它们分别识别不同的代谢物或小分子配体。随着这些核开关的发现，它们的序列特征、高级结构以及调控机制逐渐成为核开关领域的研究热点。截至目前，大部分核开关的三维结构已经被解析，相关研究不仅阐明了这些核开关对配体的特异性识别方式，还从分子层面阐释了其对下游基因表达的调控机制，为开发核开关相关应用提供了重要的研究基础。文章综述了目前已鉴定的核开关的种类和主要功能，详细探讨了辅酶类核开关的三维空间结构和配体识别机制，并展望了核开关的研究前景及潜在应用。

Riboswitches are highly conserved RNA elements capable of recognizing small molecule ligands and modulating downstream gene expression. To date, nearly 60 types of riboswitches have been identified, each recognizing different metabolites and small molecules. With the increasing discovery of riboswitches, their sequence features, tertiary structures, and regulatory mechanisms become focal points of research. Tertiary structure-based studies provide invaluable insights into understanding the ligand recognition and downstream gene expression mechanisms of riboswitches. In this review, we provide an overview of the diversity and primary functions of known riboswitches, with a specific focus on the tertiary structures and ligand recognition mechanisms of cofactor riboswitches. Additionally, we discuss the applications and future prospects of riboswitches.